Military commanders from Thailand and Cambodia held talks yesterday as calm returned to their disputed border and displaced residents began trickling back, following the announcement of a truce to end five days of fighting.
Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to a ceasefire deal.
Although Thailand’s military said there had been attacks by Cambodian troops in at least five locations yesterday, violating the ceasefire that had come into effect from midnight, commanders from both sides met and held talks, a Thai army spokesperson said.
Cambodia denied the charge, insisting its troops had strictly abided by the ceasefire and continued to uphold it, Defence Minister Tea Seiha said.
Negotiations so far include those between the general leading Thailand’s 2nd region army, which oversees the stretch of the frontier that has seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict, and his Cambodian counterpart, Thai Major-general Winthai Suvaree said.
The commanders agreed to maintain the ceasefire, stop any troop movement, and facilitate the return of the wounded and dead bodies.
Both militaries have agreed not to deploy more troops along their disputed border, Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the National Assembly of Cambodia director-general Lim Menghour said.
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said his government had filed complaints with Malaysia, the United States and China over Cambodia’s alleged ceasefire violations — but calm had returned to border areas.
